ARTFEST, the St Madeleines P&F Art, Craft & Homewares Exhibition, is the major fundraising event held annually at St Madeleines Primary School. 100% of the profits are invested in school resources and facilities, via the P&F, for the exclusive benefit of students.
Now in its 22nd year, ARTFEST 2011 - New Beginnings, celebrates a new location for the exhibitionthe new Assembly Hall and salutes our new executive as we look forward to an exciting era in the administration of the school.
The success of ARTFEST is directly related to YOU. ARTFEST showcases contemporary Australian art and aims to attract a variety of craft, homewares, Christmas gifts, jewellery, kids gift ideas and gourmet food stuffs.
ARTFEST kicks off with the now famous Gala Opening Night including gourmet supper, drinks and fantastic Live music.
We then have a host of activities & workshops for the children over the weekend - ceramic plate painting is back, new candle making, cartooning, jewellery making & the ever popular sand and plaster art (this year with added variety). The St Mads Band & Family Portraits are also included in the programme.
And, of course, Maddies Café is open all weekend serving morning tea, lunch & afternoon tea
So mark YOUR diaries now!!! Bring your family & friends. We promise a great time for all!!! And look forward to seeing you at the show.
St Madeleines P&F
OPENING
NIGHT
TICKETS
AVAILABLE
2011 FEATURED ARTIST
Opening hours: Saturday 10am to 4pm & Sunday 9am to 2pm
OPENING NIGHT, ARTFEST kicks off with the, now famous, Gala Opening Night where guests will enjoy a wonderful evening of live music, gourmet supper and drinks.
Be one of the first to view the new collection, mingle with artists and familiar faces of the community and watch Feature Artist, Gary Myers, create a painting while we watch - a real chance to get a birds-eye view of his creative process. And then be in with a chance to win it, to take home.
When: Fri 4th November - 7pm for 7.30pm start
Where: St Madeleines Primary School, New Assembly Hall
28 Annangrove Road, Kenthurst
Click on the link below to download the Booking Form for details or check your Parent Pack
OPENING NIGHT ORDER FORM
2011Opening Night Invitation.pdf
2011 Featured Artist
GARY MYERS
ARTFEST is the Hills District premier community-based art and craft show with the enviable position of being the last local show before Christmas. Now in it’s 22nd year the showcase line-up consists of over 60 Australian artists, to name a few:
Joachim Lai
Fiona Barrett-Clark
Chris Field
Donald Cameron
Susanna Mills
Melinda May
Elena Parashko
Gwyneth Fanning
(Images depicted on this website display artists style and may not be available for sale at the show)
The ARTFEST collection features a wide range of designer craft and homewares. This year we offer our most extensive collection of contemporary and traditional pieces. We are assure you will find something for your home, friends and family AND yourself! So spoil yourself or get ready for Christmas. The range includes:
• Sculpture
• Glassware & Stainless Steel
• Jewellery, Handbags & Accessories
• Homewares
• Soft Furnishings
• Stationery & Wrappings
• Gourmet Foodstuffs
• Kids Gift ideas
• Christmas Ornaments & Decorations
"childrens Workshops”
Saturday & Sunday
Ceramic Painting
Creative Cartooning
Canvas Tote Bags
Card Making
Scratch Art & Candle Rolling
Jewellery Making
Cup Cake Decorating
Sand Art
Plaster Art
ARTFEST includes a host of hands-on artistic activities that the kids will love! This year they include:
•Ceramic painting (back due to popular demand)
•Creative Cartooning
•Canvas Tote Bags
•Card Making
•Scratch Art & Candle Rolling
•Jewellery Making
•Cup Cake Decorating
•And of course the ever-popular Sand & Plaster Art, this year with a host of new designs
Some activities need to be pre-booked so check the form in the Parent Packs coming home early in Term 4. Else email Michelle at michelle_nuroc.com.au.
Ceramic Plates.pdf
St Madeleine's Primary School
28 Annangrove Road
Kenthurst NSW 2156
P: 02 9654 2187
www.stmadeleineskenthurst.catholic.edu.au
Artfest Committee
E: stmads.artfest_gmail.com
Convenor
Julie Chivers -0411 232 008
Melinda May’'s artistic ability was recognised at a young age. Encouraged by her teachers and parents, Alan Sharman tutored Melinda for 6 years with weekly art lessons. This provided her with a solid grounding in technical aspects of various mediums and techniques.
Initially taking a liking to chalk/pastel-art dedicating a lot early work to this medium.
Melinda May‘s first independent exhibition was held in 2001 in black & white chalk/pastel called ‘Rapture’ where 15 works were produced featuring couple portraits, showing the varying stages of intimacy. The exhibition was a huge success with all pieces being sold.
Melinda May diversified and tried her hand at oils, painting abstract pieces before moving on to the human form and nature subjects.
In 2007 Melinda May opened a temporary gallery for the year at the Novotel, Northbeach in Wollongong. Again, the success of the opening night was cemented with 5 of the 8 pieces being sold and regular orders, both nationally and internationally.
The gallery focused on her current style, being; photorealism/minimalist, contemporary oil based stretched canvas works. Purposely offsetting her subject on a white background enhancing and stripping the subject bare, focusing on the natural beauty.
Melinda May has an emotional attachment to her work, each piece symbolising a piece of her; stating “they are a good balance to my life and there is nothing like creating a piece that you are completely happy with and brings a smile to someone else’s face.”
Melinda May is now propelling her art career to a national level. "“For me being an artist is an ongoing learning experience filled with enjoyment and fulfilment and one that will always be within me”."
DONALD CAMERON
Donald was educated at Scotch College, he enrolled in a part-time national gallery painting course part-time. Later completing four subjects of an arts degree at Melbourne and Monash Universities.
In 1966 Donald completed further studies at the Slade School of Art London, England and in 1968 earned an Art Diploma (painting major) at Caulfield Technical Colleges.
Donald practises both graphics and painting. He has exhibited prints at the National Gallery of Victoria, Sale Regional Art Centre, Horsham Regional Art Centre, Adelaide Festival and V.A.S. Galleries in Melbourne, amongst other places.
Donald has also exhibited his portraits at Archibald Prize Exhibition and twice had portraits selected to tour Australian capitals as part of the Archibald Travelling Collections.
FIONA BARRETT-CLARK
Fiona's works are inspired by a lifetime of travelling holidays up the east coast of Australia, extending as far back as her childhood.
She works directly from photos taken while on the road, in an aim to capture the beauty of an uncomplicated and understated Australian landscape and not the stereotypical Australia found on postcards. She wants the viewer to be reminded of the tang of the salt air, the stillness of the water before a storm, the visceral feeling when entering the surf on a hot summers day, that rejuvenating quality that allows you to escape from normal life. She employs the use of oil on plywood to create a grainy texture in an attempt to accentuate the nostalgic feeling of the pieces.
Fiona Barrett-Clark completed an Advanced Diploma of Fine Arts in 1999. Over the past 10 years, she has exhibited her work in several solo and group shows throughout Sydney and was a finalist in Glover Prize in 2008.
CHRIS FIELD
Based In the Central Coast of New South Wales, Chris Field is a progressive land and seascape photographer who has developed his skills from capturing the natural beauty of the area since 2004.
“To pause a moment in time and convey a message that will connect with people is what I strive to achieve in my work. I love the freedom of expression that photography can give.”
Image composition is important to Chris who is always looking for new ways to create visual art in nature. Wide angles, leading lines and long exposures are features often used.
Colour balance is achieved through the use of filters, manual camera settings and ambient light. Some post processing is done in Aperture and Photoshop but the overall philosophy is to recreate the moment as it was seen in person.
Canon professional digital gear is Chris's choice of equipment. Currently in his bag is a 5D body, 17-40mm and 24-70mm L series and 70-300mm USM lenses, Benro carbon fibre tripod / monopod, Cokin and Hoya Pro Filters.
All Limited Edition images are printed on FujiFlex Crystal Archive Paper and professionally framed by Created For Life Print and Framing Studio.
JOACHIM LAI
“Trained as High School Geography teacher. Retired in May 2007 after 17 years in a state high school where he taught Geography, English as a Second Language and Art.
Completed an American correspondence Fine Art Painting Course from Famous Artists School as a hobby in the 1970's. Joachim painted in acrylic from 1981 to 1987. Has been painting seriously in watercolour since 1988. (Sold over 300 paintings).
Has been demonstrating watercolour painting at 6 art societies around Sydney. And participated in group exhibitions at Windsor Attic Gallery.
Represented by Dural Galleries from 1988, when it was Old Northern Gallery, to 2008. Held 3 solo exhibitions at his local high school.
Seldom participates in art competitions. Won various Art Society awards, including First Prize in Watercolour, Baulkham Hills Art Society 2004, Highly Commended awards many times. One painting published in Australian Artist Magazine.
Currently teaching watercolour painting at The White House, Castle Hill Art Society on Monday mornings 10.00 am to 12.00 noon.
ELENA PARASHKO
Elena Parashko is an award winning Sydney-based artist, writer and teacher.
Elena's artwork is represented in private and corporate collections throughout Australia and internationally. With a unique style of painting that does not restrict itself to one genre, Elena enjoys experimenting with different techniques and mediums in an exploration of subject matter - from traditional landscapes, still life, botanical illustration and seascapes through to contemporary compositions and abstracts. Elena often finds inspiration in nature and her style celebrates attention to detail.
Elena is a regular contributor of articles and painting demonstrations to numerous art magazines such as 'Australian Artist', 'Artist's Palette' and 'Fine Art and Decorative Painting' magazines in Australia and 'Leisure Painter' in the UK. Her artwork has been featured in lifestyle magazines such as 'Ocean', 'Finally at 40' and 'Honestly Woman' and she has written art related features for home decorating magazines such as 'Modern Home' and 'My Home' magazines. Elena writes a monthly motivational article for fine artists in the American magazine 'Art Calendar'.
As a trained teacher, Elena's art classes and workshops for adults and children are in high demand. She is an international tutor running yearly workshops at Daku Resort in Fiji. For those unable to attend her classes in person, downloadable interactive painting demonstrations are now available via her website at www.elenaparashko.com.
Elena was a finalist in Sydney Business Review's "Business Woman of the Year 2006". She is a member of the Australian Society of Marine Artists and the Australian Society of Authors.
We are thrilled to announce Gary Myers as feature of the Artfest 2011 exhibition & thank Sydney Art School for his sponsorship this year.
With a passion and obvious flair for the visual arts, he sought private tuition for two years under David Fowler. Gary then trained in illustration and has worked extensively in this field. His training in the graphics industry is very evident in his use of colour and composition.
Gary paints widely-ranging subjects. The desert, lush rainforests, colourful beach scenes, life studies or the abstract interpretation of any of these, can be found in his body of work. Apart from his technical rendition, Garys subjects are conveyed with a special emotion and sometimes, with a humorous storyline to lift the spirit, often hidden amongst the colour and texture that is his unique style.
Gary is a full time artist based in the hinterland of Queenslands beautiful Sunshine Coast, where his family dates back four generations.
Here, the rich colours and tranquil surrounds provide inspiration and sanctuary. Garys colourful and dramatic approach engages and excites the viewer, like few others are able to.
Meet Gary, get engaged and excited, on Opening Night and watch his Art in Action as he creates a piece especially for Artfest 2011. It could be yours to take home!!!
SUSANNA MILLS
Zimbabwean-born Susanna Mills is a graduate of the Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town. Now living in Galston after relocating from Johannesburg in 2005, Susanna is engaged in exploring this journey through her creativity, with occasional adventures into graphic design, writing and the transformation of ordinary, mass-produced items into extraordinary works of art. Through this process, Mills has found mosaic to be an allegoric medium by which one's chaos may be culled into a magnificent synthesis.
Since arriving in Sydney, Mills has developed her techniques, specialising in the airbrushing of underglaze onto greenware and integrating these very unique ceramics with mosaic. Broken crockery, glass beads, left-over ceramic and glass tiles can all be combined to create a durable, one-of a kind piece to enhance your home. "All you need is a dash of patience," says Mills, "Because mosaic is a notoriously time-consuming means of creative expression, so start simple and small." 2010 saw Mills push the medium further by integrating mosaic with LED lighting and recycled glass- winning first prize in the Double Bay 'Strike a Pose' Exhibition with her spectacular 'Angel in Evening Dress.'
Mills is a highly versatile artist, whether it be designing freelance jobs in CS4 on her Apple Mac, or getting her hands dirty with oils, acrylic, mosaic and ceramics. Point your browser to www.susies-studio.com to see for yourself.
GWYNETH FANNING
Gwyneth began her career in painting with a strong background in textile design, later developing an interest in watercolour and mixed media which proved to be very successful.
Gwyneth trained with leading artists both traditional and contemporary creating her own style and ideas resulting in award-winning paintings.
In 2002 she had her first solo exhibition and in 2003 was guest artist at local Art Show.
Currently working closely with a leading Design and Decorator Business in Sydney producing paintings for clients to compliment decorator themes.
Gwyneth is an active member of Castle Hill Art Society and enjoys painting in many styles, with fluid compositions in rich vibrant colours to capture the imagination.
